Can you leave a tire on too long?
06-01-15, 08:47 AM
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Can you leave a tire on too long?
I have had the same front tire on for at least two rear tire changes, and I'm wondering if, at some point, it can be dangerous to leave it on for so long? Do I risk a blowout or something else? There's still plenty of tread life on the tire, and it's a good quality tire, but I don't know if you can leave a tire on for too long, regardless of how worn it is.
06-01-15, 09:01 AM
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Usually you'll start getting frequent punctures when a tire's time has come. Most of the time I get a sidewall tear before that happens.
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06-01-15, 09:11 AM
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I have had the same front tire on for at least two rear tire changes, and I'm wondering if, at some point, it can be dangerous to leave it on for so long? Do I risk a blowout or something else? There's still plenty of tread life on the tire, and it's a good quality tire, but I don't know if you can leave a tire on for too long, regardless of how worn it is.
Some people would move it to the rear when the rear needs replacing, and put the new tire on the front. Up to you.
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06-01-15, 09:26 AM
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+1. Simply leaving a tire mounted won't cause any issues, but I'd consider the above if you've already worn out a few rear tires.
06-01-15, 09:34 AM
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Depends on the Tire Rubber compound too , My Suomi-Nokian Studded tires I got in 1990 are still fine ..
long wearing Black Utility tires..
Where are they, yours , stored?
long wearing Black Utility tires..
Where are they, yours , stored?
06-01-15, 09:43 AM
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As you have noticed, front tires don't really wear out the way rear tires do and a front tire with 5000 miles will look new. However, they do get age-hardened from light, heat and UV exposure, can develop tread and sidewall cracks and are more vulnerable to punctures. I use a front tire through two rear tires and then change both.
06-01-15, 10:01 AM
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As you have noticed, front tires don't really wear out the way rear tires do and a front tire with 5000 miles will look new. However, they do get age-hardened from light, heat and UV exposure, can develop tread and sidewall cracks and are more vulnerable to punctures. I use a front tire through two rear tires and then change both.
Also, normally I do rotate after 500 miles or so, before the rear becomes flattened, then just keep that as the front until I change it.
It's a 4000s tire and I keep them stored in a rubbermaid bin in my garage.
06-01-15, 10:08 AM
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The beginning of the end for a front tire is when you see the fabric of the walls beginning to fray or tear. Checking or the formations of surface cracks on the rubber walls, or drying out of the rubber aren't the issue because they can still protect the fabric anyway.
You generally see the fraying I'm taking about on tires that have open walls coated with a thin layer of latex. UV and weather breaak down the latex, and water gets into the fabric which begins to break down. Even so, this is usually a slow process, and took almost 5 years on one of my bikes that was ridden daily year round.
So ride the tire with confidence, as long as the tire is round and free of lumps and distortion that indicate the fabric is breaking down.
You generally see the fraying I'm taking about on tires that have open walls coated with a thin layer of latex. UV and weather breaak down the latex, and water gets into the fabric which begins to break down. Even so, this is usually a slow process, and took almost 5 years on one of my bikes that was ridden daily year round.
So ride the tire with confidence, as long as the tire is round and free of lumps and distortion that indicate the fabric is breaking down.
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06-01-15, 10:42 AM
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The beginning of the end for a front tire is when you see the fabric of the walls beginning to fray or tear. Checking or the formations of surface cracks on the rubber walls, or drying out of the rubber aren't the issue because they can still protect the fabric anyway.
You generally see the fraying I'm taking about on tires that have open walls coated with a thin layer of latex. UV and weather breaak down the latex, and water gets into the fabric which begins to break down. Even so, this is usually a slow process, and took almost 5 years on one of my bikes that was ridden daily year round.
So ride the tire with confidence, as long as the tire is round and free of lumps and distortion that indicate the fabric is breaking down.
You generally see the fraying I'm taking about on tires that have open walls coated with a thin layer of latex. UV and weather breaak down the latex, and water gets into the fabric which begins to break down. Even so, this is usually a slow process, and took almost 5 years on one of my bikes that was ridden daily year round.
So ride the tire with confidence, as long as the tire is round and free of lumps and distortion that indicate the fabric is breaking down.
06-01-15, 11:11 AM
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I want a pretty new tire on the front all the time, and I'll ride the rear until the fabric starts to come apart or show through the tread.
If the fabric is good and the rubber is good and the bead is good; the tire is good no matter how old it is. But that new rubber grip just doesn't last that long. New tires are wasted on the rear.
If the fabric is good and the rubber is good and the bead is good; the tire is good no matter how old it is. But that new rubber grip just doesn't last that long. New tires are wasted on the rear.
06-01-15, 02:07 PM
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I've ridden tires until I could see the rubber tube. They would finally pop from a combination of rear braking and skidding. Haven't gotten to that point in years though because I only ride with a front brake now. I think I was able to ride for so long because I weighed 120 lbs. and rode 27"s back in the day. I never really thought of the risk of popping during fast descents.
06-01-15, 02:26 PM
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I had a 6-year old Specialized Turbo let go in spite of looking just fine (no cuts or exposed fabric).
Fortunately, it was sitting in my office so nobody was hurt, just a bit startled...
Fortunately, it was sitting in my office so nobody was hurt, just a bit startled...
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06-01-15, 02:54 PM
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Is there any reason why you don't just move the front to the rear, and grind it down till it is ready to be tossed?
This is a tire I replaced last year. It was a few years old at the time. I think I'm putting more miles on my bike(s) now, so I probably won't have many tires over a year or two old.
What I think happens as the tire ages is that not only do I have more cumulative cuts from road debris, but the rubber becomes more (brittle? and) susceptible to cuts, and perhaps there is just some weather checking on top of that.
Anyway, I started getting a few flats, so it was time for the tire to go.
This is a tire I replaced last year. It was a few years old at the time. I think I'm putting more miles on my bike(s) now, so I probably won't have many tires over a year or two old.
What I think happens as the tire ages is that not only do I have more cumulative cuts from road debris, but the rubber becomes more (brittle? and) susceptible to cuts, and perhaps there is just some weather checking on top of that.
Anyway, I started getting a few flats, so it was time for the tire to go.
06-01-15, 05:03 PM
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